NACOGDOCHES, Texas — EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above aired on Sept. 19, 2023
Four Stephen F. Austin State University alumni are supporting the Texas Rangers as they make their World Series run this season.
SFA graduates Bryana Novegil ’21 & ’23, Aaron Rangel ’20, Isaiah Schreiber ’20 and Isaiah Yates ’18 are hoping to witness the Rangers win their first World Series title in its 62-year history.
A Tyler native, Rangel is working his third season as an account executive for season tickets.
“This is what each front office employee dreams of, and it has been a rollercoaster of emotions,” Rangel said. “After coming off losing seasons my first years, it is awesome to witness the turnaround and reap the benefits of a winning team.”
The four alumni were part of the Rusche College of Business sports business program that allowed the students to receive real-life work experience in sales for a sporting event.
“Through our partnership with SFA Athletics and with Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, these students were able to participate in the whole sales process for sporting event tickets before they left SFA. They learned what it was like to make a sales call, overcome objections, and make a sale," said Dr. Jason Reese, associate dean of the Rusche College of Business and an associate professor of sports marketing.
With the experience they received through the program, they now work with the Texas Rangers business development and ticketing operations department.
After working with the Rangers for three seasons, Shreiber was promoted to the position of new business development representative. He said he wouldn't be where he is if it wasn't for his SFA connections.
“The faculty at SFA supported my career path and provided me with the early networking opportunities that helped me enter the Rangers organization shortly after I graduated,” Schreiber said.
Another Tyler native, Yates has worked with the Rangers for five seasons as an account executive in group sales. He said it is still sinking in that his team is playing in the World Series.
“It is surreal,” Yates said. “This is truly what I dreamed of when I first decided to work in sports.”
Yates said that his dream would not be possible without the preparation he received at SFA.
“If not for the things that I learned and the connections that I made as an intern with SFA Athletics, I would not be in the position that I am today,” Yates said.
Houston native, Novegil is an account executive for new business development with the Rangers for two seasons.
“Being a part of a World Series-contending team is an awesome accomplishment and experience,” Novegil said. “I grew up playing softball and having a passion for a ball and a bat. I always wanted to make it to the big leagues, and I knew my only way to do that would be working in the front office.”
Reese said Novegil, Rangel, Schreiber and Yates' hard work and dedication during their time at SFA has paid off.
“We are so excited to see our former SFA sports business students be successful so soon after graduating,” Reese said. “It makes us very proud.”